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treasures of the east to imperial Rome, fell a sacrifice to the unbounded corruption and venality of its grandees. But of all the new regulations, the Stamp Act not excepted, this under consideration is the most excessively unreasonable. For, in effect, the yet free representatives of the free assemblies of North America, are called upon to repay, of their own and their constituents' money, such sum or sums, as persons, over whom they can have no check or control, may be pleased to expend! As Representatives, we are deputed by the people, agreeable to the royal charter and laws of this province. By that charter and the nature of our trust, we are only empowered to grant such aids, and 'levy such taxes for his majesty's service, as are reasonable;' of which, if we are not free and independent judges, we can no longer be free representatives, nor our constituents free subjects. If we are free judges, we are at liberty to follow the dictates of our own understanding, without regard to the mandates of another; much less can we be free judges, if we are but blindly to give as much of our own and of our constituents substance, as may be commanded, or thought fit to be expended, by those we know not.'

"Your Excellency must, therefore, excuse us, in this express declaration, that as we cannot, consis tently with our honour, or interest, and much less with the duty we owe our constituents, so we never shall, make provision for the purposes in your several messages above mentioned,"

The house had previously, on the 27th of June, voted a petition to the king for the removal of Sir Francis Bernard, Baronet, from the government, and making a long list of accusations against him, founded in part on the letters he had written to the ministry, copies of which were obtained and forwarded by Mr. Bollan, and which entirely unmasked han. This petition was drawn up by a committee, composed like the one that answered the preceding message. On the same day, July 15th, that the Governor received that answer, he sent them a message, accusing them of factious opposition, of trifling away their time, and neglecting the transaction of public business. He tells them, that "to his majes ty and to his parliament, must be referred your invasion of the rights of imperial sovereignty. By your own acts you will be judged. You need not be apprehensive of any misrepresentations, as it is not in the power of your enemies, if you have any, to add to your publications; they are plain and explicit, and need no comment." He then informs them that he shall prorogue them, to the usual period of meeting in the winter. Governor Bernard soon afterwards returned to England.

Thus terminated the disastrous administration of Sir Francis Bernard. This gentleman was educated at Oxford, and was a solicitor practising in Doctor's Commons, when he received in 1758, the appointment of Governor of New Jersey. In 1760, he was removed to Massachusetts. No Governor was ever better received, or more liberally rewarded,

than he was, in the beginning of his career. If he had fallen on ordinary times, he might have run his course, without being remarkable, or exciting either very strong complaints, or regrets. He had a sufficient share of legal knowledge to qualify him for his station. He was a good scholar, and fond of literature; he had read much, had a powerful memory, and boasted that he could repeat the whole of Shakspeare. He was a friend to Harvard College, and when one of the college edifices, with the library, was burnt, he exerted all his influence to repair the misfortune. The building now called Harvard Hall, was erected by legislative aid; the plan was given by him, and he took great interest in its execution, giving a part of his library to assist the formation of a new one.

In his administration, he soon began to commit mistakes, but public opinion was not rashly turned against him. He entered by his natural disposition, and his arbitrary principles of government, into all the views of the ministry, whom he stimulated to continue their system of taxation, by representing, that they could infallibly obtain every point they wished. He was blinded by his bad temper, to believe, that the opposition in the colony, which daily grew more extensive and resolute, could be easily subdued. His personal animosity towards particular individuals led him to think, that all the discontent was owing to their efforts, and that, if they were out of the way, the people would submit. When he could not doubt that the ministerial scheme of

revenue was unpopular, and could not be carried into effect while the government continued on its ancient principles, he did not advise that the system should be abandoned, but occupied himself incessantly to destroy the charter, in order to subvert the rights it protected. He was arrogant, irritable and implacable; and one of the chief promoters of the policy which brought a military force upon the country. He was grasping in the pursuit of fortune,* and excessively parsimonious: of which disposition, many ridiculous stories were circulated by his own household, that served to draw upon him the contempt of the public. His character was not of a ́kind to procure him private friends, who might console him for public ill-will. He found the people of his government, free, loyal, prosperous, and attached to the mother country; he left them, discontented, oppressed, and on the brink of irrevocable alienation. After a residence of ten years, he quitted a country, where he had been originally received with great cordiality, decorated with the fa

*The day preceding the termination of the last session, of the legislature under his administration, after the house had refused his request to pay the salary in advance, for a place he was not to occupy, they passed a resolve, with the obvious intention of placing his sordid disposition in a strong light: "July 14th, the house resolved that Henry Hutton, William Burch, John Robinson, and Charles Paxton, Esquires, commissioners, should be called on to pay the Province, 54l. 4s. as rent for the use of the rooms at the castle, occupied by thein 4 1-2 months; it being the sum of two dollars per month for each room, and half as much as Governor Bernard demanded for each of said rooms, of the inhabitants of this Province, who had the small-pox in them." As Captain of the castle, he had in a moment of public distress exacted this unworthy perquisite from the inhabitants, for the use of barracks, that had been built at the expence of the Province.

vour, and pensioned by the bounty of his sovereign, and followed by public hatred and derision.

Chapter XXXI.

Speeches of Otis-Anecdote of him and fragment of a Letter—Calumnies against him by the Crown Officers -Advertisement—Assault upon him-Consequences of his wounds --Gives up the damages-Town-Meeting and Vindication of the Town of Boston.

WHEN the new legislature assembled in Boston, at the close of May 1769, and found the building surrounded with cannon and military guards, Otis rose immediately after they were organized, and in a brief address of deep energy and impassioned eloquence, declared how unworthy it was of a free legislature, to attempt any deliberations in the presence of a military force; and moved the appointment of a committee, to make immediately the protests and remonstrances, that have been already mentioned, and which were followed after some days delay, by their being transferred to Cambridge. When they had assembled in the college chapel, Otis again addressed them, before proceeding to business. Besides the members, deeply affected, mortified and indignant at the insult which they had received from a standing army, and revolving in

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